The 45-year-old local businessman made his first attempt at elective office a good one. He captured 53 percent of the vote and his party ended eight years of frustration by capturing majorities on the town council and the board of education.

"I think the people of Rocky Hill won this election,'' Vasel said. "We ran a positive campaign and ran on the issues. Not only did we talk about the issues, we talked about the solutions.''

Vasel, who is president of the family-owned construction business, Vasel Brothers Inc., was unusually subdued afterwards at party headquarters, where Moriarty and other members of the Democratic slate came to offer congratulations. "The people of Rocky Hill want change and they are getting change. We are going to roll up our sleeves and get to work," he pledged.

A staff captain in the volunteer fire department, long active in local affairs, Vasel ran a spirited campaign. He invested more than $10,000 of his own money into the race, mixing lawn signs, T-shirts and print advertising with social media to get his name and message out to voters. He and Moriarty went head-to-head in two locally sponsored debates, with both candidate touting their records of leadership and community involvement.

The mayoral campaign was the first for Moriarty, a 53-year-old training instructor for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 43. A council veteran and former deputy mayor, he was voted into office by other council members following the resignation his predecessor, Anthony LaRosa, this past spring.

Moriarty said he had no explanation for the loss. "I can't figure it. We stood on our record and the record shows we were there for the town. I don't think there is any more I could have done."

Joining Vasel on the council will be five Republicans: incumbents Nadine Bell, Catherine Vargas, Frank Szeps and newcomers Meg Casasanta and Guy Drapeau. Moriarty won enough votes to win a seat on the council, along with fellow Democrats Bill MacDonald and Joseph Kochanek.

Republicans Jennifer Simboski Allison, Brian Dillon, Danielle Alfano Plona, Frank Morse and Dilip Desai were elected to the board of education. They will be joined by Democrats James Moriarty, Maria Mennella, Rene "Skip' Rivard and John Bedlack.

Voters overwhelmingly backed a $10 million bond referendum to fix some of the town's worst streets. Bond proceeds will fund major or complete repair of 25.38 miles of pavement, or about 40 percent of town roadways.